A man arrested in connection with the discovery of nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana in a tractor-trailer as well as a man arrested in an unrelated incident in which a woman reported she had been raped July 31 will stand trial in November in Pope County Circuit Court.

Drug arrest

Samuel Rogelio Silva, 28, was arrested Aug. 2 after Arkansas State Police (ASP) officers, through the assistance of canine units, found 958 pounds of marijuana in a tractor-trailer Silva was driving on Interstate 40 near Russellville, according to a report filed by ASP Trooper Chris Goodman.

During an Aug. 3 bond hearing, Silva said he was unaware of the truck's contents and claimed to have been "set up" by an unnamed individual who he said paid him $2,000 to drive the truck from Phoenix, Ariz. to Atlanta, Ga.

Silva is set to stand trial Nov. 13 on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Rape arrest

William Jackson Burris, 24, will stand trial Nov. 21 in circuit court, where he is charged with rape in connection with a woman's allegations he engaged her in sexual intercourse against her will during the early morning hours of July 31 at his home on South Boston Avenue.

According to a document supporting probable cause filed in circuit court, Burris admitted he engaged in intercourse with the woman, but claimed the encounter was consensual.

He later added the woman "told him no more than once," according to the document.